Courtney Kuhlen/Journal-World Photo Douglas County Fire and Medical rescue personel help pull in a raft holding three children who were stranded on a sandbar in the middle of the Kansas river just east of the dam. They were part of a group of three adults and five children who had ventured out into the middle of the river and then got stuck once the water levels raised. All were brought safely to shore just before sunset Sunday evening without any injuries.

A family enjoying itself on a sandbar in the Kansas River suddenly became stranded and in need of a rescue Sunday afternoon.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical used a boat to bring the two adults and five children off the sandbar just east of the Massachusetts Street bridge. No one was injured in the incident, Acting Fire Chief Mark Bradford said.

The family had walked to the sandbar from the south bank and later realized the water had come up and decided it was too treacherous to walk back, Bradford said.

• 6News video: Family rescued from Kansas River (11-06-05)

“The mother had a cell phone and called for assistance,” Bradford said.

Firefighters approached the family from the north bank, where they found some places where the water was neck deep, Bradford said. Other areas appeared to be about knee deep on the firefighters.

“They were just out having a good time on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and got caught,” Bradford said.